Record keeping system and method employing plural forms and co-operating reusable adhesive strip

ABSTRACT

Two different, but related form sheets are provided for use in sequence by different departments. EAch form sheet has two separate pluralities of headings thereon, one for each department. Each form sheet has also one or more strip receiving spaces extending transversely across both pluralities of headings thereon. A plurality of strips of re-usable, adhesive backed writing material are provided, each strip being of a size to fit onto, and to extend the entire length of, one of said spaces. With one of the strips adhesively applied to its space on a first form sheet, data entries are made on the strip by the originating department in register with each of the headings of the first plurality thereof. The strip is then peeled off and forwarded to a follow-up department, where the strip is adhesively applied to one of the spaces provided on a second form sheet and entries are made on the strip by the follow-up department in register wit each of the headings of the second plurality thereof. The completed strip is then peeled off of the second form sheet and returned to the originating department, where it is adhesively reapplied to its previous space on the first form sheet for billing and filing as a permanent record of the complete procedure.

United States Patent Warren [54] RECORD KEEPING SYSTEM AND METHODEMPLOYING PLURAL FORMS AND CO-OPERATING REUSABLE ADHESIVE STRIP James R.Warren, Chula Vista, Calif. 73] Assignee: Rohr Corporation, Chula Vista,Calif. [22] Filed: June 1, 1970 [2 1] Appl. No.: 41,930

[72] Inventor:

[52] U.S. Cl. [58] Field of Search ..283/55, 283/66 ..B42d 15/00..283/66, 55, 48, 54, 6l;

282/23, 29 A, 29 B, 26, 27; 28l/2, 3

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,520,749 4/1968 France ..282/27 R 1513,661,407 [451 May 9, 1972 Primary Bummer-Lawrence CharlesAttorney-George E. Pearson 5 ABSTRACT Two different, but related formsheets are provided for use in sequence by different departments. EAchform sheet has two separate pluralities of headings thereon, one foreach department. Each form sheet has also one or more strip receivingspaces extending transversely across both pluralities of headingsthereon. A plurality of strips of re-usable, adhesive backed writingmaterial are provided, each strip being of a size to fit onto, and toextend the entire length of, one of said spaces. With one of the stripsadhesively applied to its space on a first form sheet, data entries aremade on the strip by the originating department in register with each ofthe headings of the first plurality thereof. The strip is then peeledoff and forwarded to 'a follow-up department, where the strip isadhesively applied to one of the spaces provided on a second form sheetand entries are made on the strip by the follow-up department inregister wit each of the headings of the second plurality thereof. Thecompleted strip is then peeled off of the second form sheet and returnedto the originating department. where it is adhesively reapplied to itsprevious space on the first form sheet for billing and filing as apermanent record of the complete procedure.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures NUMBER PATENTEDMM 9 I972 SHEEI 1 [if 2ATTORNEY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In many branches ofindustry,.production type manufacturing orders require a relativelysmall, and therefore inexpensive, amount of paper work, while orders forspares and replacement parts require a relatively large and costlyamount of such paper work. For example, in one large firm approximately90 percent of the dollar revenue is attained from production orders, andonly about percent from spares and replacements. However, the spares andreplacement orders account for approximately 90 percent of the overallpaper work pertaining to ordering, manufacturing, recording. andbilling.

In one phase of this unbalanced situation eight forms were previouslyused in the processing and keeping track of a single type of sparesorder, and each set of these eight forms required 100 to 200 entries perday. Many of the entries on these forms included alarge number ofrepetitive items, such as part number, quantity, sales order number,priority, etc. These eight forms have now been replaced by twoformsheets and a single strip of re-usable adhesive material which istrans ferable from a coordinating position on one form sheet. to asimilar position on the other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a primary objective of the presentinvention to improve and simplify the keeping of records andthetransmitting of information between two or more interrelateddepartments or facilities which co-operate in sequence to produce anultimate result or product. A further objective of the invention is toprovide at least two different form sheets for use in sequence bydifferent but coordinated departments, each form sheet having twopluralities of headings thereon, one for each department, and are-usable adhesive strip for application to each-form sheet in registerwith headings thereon during the period of use of each form sheet by itsrespective department.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS .The foregoing objectives andadvantages of the invention will be apparent from the followingdescription and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first type of printed form sheet embodyingthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view showing a fragmentof a single adhesive type of re-usable adhesive strip used inconjunction with the forms shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a second type of printed form sheet embodyingthe invention.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view, similar to FIG. 2, showing amulti-adhesive type of re-usable adhesive strip.

DETAILED DESCRIITION Referring to the drawings in detail, anillustrative embodiment of the invention comprises a first type of formsheet A, see FIG. 1, used by an originating department, a second type ofform sheet 8, see FIG. 3, used by a followup department, and a pluralityof strips C, see FIG. 2, of re-usable adhesive material whichco-operates with either type of form sheet.

The term "department" as used'herein is intended to mean any type ofentity, such as a person, company, group, facility, organization, orother, which works or. co-operates with another department in sequenceto 'jproduce a result or product.

Extending across an upper portion of each form sheet A and B are twopluralities of printed headings 10a and 10b divided by a line 11. Theheadings on both forms A and B are similar, the headings 10a to the leftof the line 11 pertaining to information items supplied by anoriginating department, while those 10b to the right of the line 11pertain to information items supplied. by a follow-up department. Suchheadings will, of course, vary with the requirements of the departmentsemploying the invention.

For the purposes of the present description it is assumed that the firstform sheetA is used by the order taking and bookkeeping department of amanufacturing company, and

the second form sheet B is used by a manufacturingdepartment of the samecompany. For example, the left hand head-- ing of the plurality 10athereof reads Part Number." Other headings of this same plurality 10amay be, for example, Quantity," Availability," Sales Order Number," WorkOrder Number, Priority, Previous Sales Order," etc. Theheadings 101710the right of line 1 l pertaining to the follow-up department, may be,for example, "Container Type," Production Order," Special Order," DatePlanning Available, Tooling Date," Tooling Charges, Completion Date,etc.

One-or more spaces areprovidedon each of the form sheets Aand-Bextendingtransversely-across beneath both pluralities of headings 10a and 10b forthe adhesive application thereon of the. re-usable' adhesive strips C.

Each strip C, see FIG: 2, is of single adhesive type, and comprises aface .layer 12 of suitable writing material such as paper, a backinglayer 13 of suitable, re-usable, adhesive material applied to the backof the face layer 12, and a layer 14 of protective material such as waxpaper which is peeled off before use to expose the adhesive backinglayer 13.

To be satisfactory for the present invention the re-usable adhesivematerial 13 should be of a type which will permit the strips C to bepeeled off and re-used during their transitory phase without damagingeither the strips or the form sheets to which they are applied, butwhich will retain the strips firmly attached to the original forms Awhen reapplied thereto for permanent storage. Since most re-usableadhesive coated material, for example, many types of masking tape, tendto become more firmly attached with the passage of a relatively shortperiod of time, the development of a suitable adhesive material 13 iswell within the capabilities of any manufacturer of such material.

The face layer 12 of each strip C preferably has imprinted on itsexposed side a plurality of transverse, linear markings 15, which dividethe strip C into spaces 17, one of which is aligned beneath each of theheadings 10a and 10b when strip C is applied to either a form sheet A asshown in FIG. 1, or a fonn sheet B as shown in FIG. 3.

In the event that there is some doubt that the single adhesive tapestrips C will remain securely attached to their respective first forms Afor final storage when they are returned, completed, to an originatingdepartment for re-application to their respective forms A, a dualadhesive type strip D, see FIG. 4, may be employed. This modified formof strip D comprises a face layer 18 of suitable writing material, suchas paper, with a backing layer 19 of permanent adhesive material. Apeel-off strip 20 of suitable material, such as light sheet plasticmaterial, is removably adhesively attached to the permanent adhesivebacking layer 19 by a layer 21 of re-usable adhesive material, and isalso coated on its other side with a layer 22 of re-usable adhesivematerial. I

A protective layer 23 of wax paper or other suitable material may beprovided to protect the re-usable adhesive layer 22 prior to use. All ofthe layers except the protective layer 23 remain assembled, and thestrip D is in effect a re-usable type adhesive strip, during thetransitory phase of its use, but when the strip D is returned,completed, to an originating depart ment for permanent attachment to itsfirst form A, the peel-off layer 20 with its re-usable adhesive coatings21 and 22 is stripped away to expose the permanent adhesive 19.

OPERATION OF THE INVENTION It is assumed that the first form sheets Aare used by an originating or order taking and bookkeeping department ofa manufacturing corporation for certain types of spares orders, and thatthe second form sheets B are used by a follow-up or manufacturingdepartment which makes these spares. When an order is received from acustomer for such spares, the originating department employs a firstform sheet A with a strip C applied thereto as shown in FIG. 1, andfills in all pertinent portions of said fonn, including all pertinentspaces 17 of the strip in register with the headings a of the strip C,at the same time striking a line 24, see FIG. 1, through anynonpertinent spaces 17. The forms A preferably are printed on a goodgrade of record paper which will not be damaged by the peeling ofi ofthe strips C.

Preferably a photocopy is made of the first form sheet A with the thuspartly completed strip C thereon for two reasons, 1, to identify itsproper form sheet A when the strip C is returned completed by thefollow-up department, and, 2, as a record in case the strip C should belost or damaged.

The strip C is then peeled off of its first form A and is forwarded tothe follow-up department involved. For such forwarding, the strips C maybe applied by their temporary adhesive 13 to a smooth surface such asthat provided by a sheet or plate of plastic material, not shown. Anydesired number of such semi-completed strips C may be forwarded at onceto a follow-up department, where a supply of second form sheets B, seeFIG. 2, are on hand for use in further processing the various orders,each of which is represented by one of the semi-completed strips C.

The form sheets B for use by the follow-up department preferably areeither printed on hard, smooth surfaced, durable material, such as sheetplastic or heavily plasticized paper, or are covered with or encased intransparent plastic material and the strips C applied to such plasticmaterial. Then, when an order represented by one or more of the strips Cis completed, such strip or strips are peeled off and the form sheet Bcan be used over and over again by applying new strips C thereto asfuture manufacturing orders, represented by such new strips, arereceived. Such re-use of the second forms B is possible since it isunnecessary for the follow-up department to make any entries on thesecond form sheet B itself, but only in the column spaces 17 on thestrips C. When several strips C pertain to similar items, more than onethereof may be applied to a single form sheet B as shown at Ca, Cb andCc in FIG. 3. It will be noted from the entries under the headings 10athat the strip C in FIG. 1 is the same one as that shown at Ca in FIG.3.

As the various operations called for by the headings 10b are performedby the follow-up department, appropriate entries are made on eachattached strip C in the corresponding spaces 17 under said headings, aline 24', see FIG. 3, being drawn through any non-pertinent spaces 17.

Upon completion by the follow-up department of the processing of theitems called for by the headings 10b, and the entry on the tape stripsof the appropriate data in each of the spaces 17 under the headings 10b,the completed tape strips C are stripped off of the second form sheet Band are returned to the originating department, preferably in the samemanner as that in which they were forwarded to the follow-up departmentas explained previously herein.

When the completed strips C are received back by the originatingdepartment, said originating department adhesively reapplies each suchcompleted strip to the linear space provided on its original form A, andcompletes such other portions of the fonn A outside of the strip C asmay be required, such as items pertaining to billing, etc. The photocopywhich was made of the first form A by the originating department beforeforwarding its partly completed strip C to the follow-up department maythen be removed and destroyed. The completed first form A, with thecompleted strip C attached thereto is then filed away by the originatingdepartment as a permanent and complete record of the transaction with noneed of extra forms, copying, etc.

It will be understood that if a multi-adhesive type tape strip D is usedinstead of the single adhesive type C, the steps described herein forthe use of the tape strip C will be followed for the tape strip D withthe exception that prior to the final re-application of the strip D toits form A after return of the completed strip by the follow-updepartment, the strip 20 with its adhesive coating 21 and 22 will firstbe peeled off to expose the permanent adhesive layer 19, which is thenused for final attachment of the strip to its form A.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 now claim as new and usefuland desire to secure by U. 8. Letters Patent is:

l. A cumulative record keeping system for recording a plurality ofdesignated operations performed by each of at least two departmentsoperating in sequence on a single item, said system comprising a firstrecord form sheet for use by a first of such departments and havingthereon a plurality of original entries and having also two groups ofcolumn headings imprinted thereon, one of such groups designatingoperations to be performed on such item by such first department, andthe other of said groups designating operations to be perfonned on thesame item by such second department, said first form sheet having astrip-attaching space thereon extending transversely across, andadjacent, the column headings thereon,

a strip of writing material with pressure sensitive, releasable,adhesive backing initially attached to the strip attaching space on suchfirst form sheet for entering, under appropriate headings of the firstgroup, operations performed on such item by such first department,

a second form sheet for use by such second department and having similartwo groups of column headings imprinted thereon, said second form sheethaving a plurality of strip attaching spaces thereon extendingtransversely across both groups of column headings thereon and alignedin column form relative to such column headings, whereby operations onsuch item designated by column headings of such first group arecompleted and entries made pertaining thereto on such strip oppositeappropriate column headings of the first group, the strip is detachedforwarded, together with the item to which it pertains, to such seconddepartment where such strip is attached to one of such spaces of thesecond form sheet, and operations on such item designated by columnheadings of the second group are completed and entries made pertainingthereto on such strip opposite appropriate column headings of the secondgroup, and the strip is detached and returned to such first department,where it is reattached in the space provided on its first form sheet tocomprise, with the original entries thereon, a complete record of theoperations performed on such item by both such departments.

2. A record keeping system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reusableadhesive backed strip comprises a strip of writing material with asingle backing layer of reusable adhesive material of a type whichbecomes more firmly attached after it has been adhesively attached to anobject for a period of time of the order of a few weeks.

3. A record keeping system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reusable,adhesive backed strip comprises a strip of writing material, a firstbacking layer of permanent adhesive material, and a second backing layerof reusable adhesive material removably attached to the strip tounderlie and cover the layer of permanent adhesive material for use ofthe strip as a reusable adhesive strip while the layer of reusableadhesive is in place, and for permanent attachment of the strip to oneof the forms by means of the permanent adhesive upon removal of thelayer of reusable adhesive material.

4. A record keeping system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first formsheets are of paper, and the second form sheets are of a material havingan impermeable surface.

5. A record keeping system as defined in claim 1 wherein each adhesivebacked strip has a plurality of transverse linear markings thereon, themarkings being located to lie between adjacent headings on either of theform sheets when the strip is adhesively attached to the space providedtherefor on such fonn sheet.

6. The method of recording the progress of an item through twosuccessive departments acting in sequence on such item, with comprises,

adhesively attaching, by a first of two departments, a strip of reusableadhesive backed material to a first form sheet having a plurality oforiginal entries thereon and having also two pluralities of headingsthereon pertaining to such item with the strip extending transverselyacross both pluralities of such headings; marking, by the first of suchdepartments, of pertinent processing data pertaining to such item on thestrip in register with each heading of one plurality of such headings,

removing the strip by such first department and forwarding the striptogether with such item to a follow-up department,

adhesive attaching, by such follow-up department, the strip of reusableadhesive backed material to a second form sheet having a similar twopluralities of headings thereon with the strip extending transverselyacross both pluralities of such headings with the data entered on thestrip by the first of such departments in register with each of theheadings of one plurality thereof,

marking by such follow-up department of pertinent processing datapertaining to such item on the strip in register with each of the otherplurality of such headings, and

removing the strip and returning it to the first of such departments forreattachment of the strip to the first sheet with data entered on thestrip by both of such departments in register with respective headingsof both pluralities thereof, whereby such strip, together with theoriginal entries and column headings on the first form provides apermanent record of the processing of such item through both suchdepartments.

7. The method defined in claim 6 wherein each strip is one of severalsimilar strips, each pertaining to similar items, and each originatingas a single strip attached to a first such form, and the several stripsare attached in column alignment relative to the headings on such secondform, for simultaneous processing by such second department.

1. A cumulative record keeping system for recording a plurality ofdesignated operations performed by each of at least two departmentsoperating in sequence on a single item, said system comprising a firstrecord form sheet for use by a first of such departments and havingthereon a plurality of original entries and having also two groups ofcolumn headings imprinted thereon, one of such groups designatingoperations to be performed on such item by such first department, andthe other of said groups designating operations to be performed on thesame item by such second department, said first form sheet having astripattaching space thereon extending transversely across, andadjacent, the column headings thereon, a strip of writing material withpressure sensitive, releasable, adhesive backing initially attached tothe strip attaching space on such first form sheet for entering, underappropriate headings of the first group, operations performed on suchitem by such first department, a second form sheet for use by suchsecond department and having similar two groups of column headingsimprinted thereon, said second form sheet having a plurality of stripattaching spaces thereon extending transversely across both groups ofcolumn headings therEon and aligned in column form relative to suchcolumn headings, whereby operations on such item designated by columnheadings of such first group are completed and entries made pertainingthereto on such strip opposite appropriate column headings of the firstgroup, the strip is detached forwarded, together with the item to whichit pertains, to such second department where such strip is attached toone of such spaces of the second form sheet, and operations on such itemdesignated by column headings of the second group are completed andentries made pertaining thereto on such strip opposite appropriatecolumn headings of the second group, and the strip is detached andreturned to such first department, where it is reattached in the spaceprovided on its first form sheet to comprise, with the original entriesthereon, a complete record of the operations performed on such item byboth such departments.
 2. A record keeping system as claimed in claim 1wherein the reusable adhesive backed strip comprises a strip of writingmaterial with a single backing layer of reusable adhesive material of atype which becomes more firmly attached after it has been adhesivelyattached to an object for a period of time of the order of a few weeks.3. A record keeping system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reusable,adhesive backed strip comprises a strip of writing material, a firstbacking layer of permanent adhesive material, and a second backing layerof reusable adhesive material removably attached to the strip tounderlie and cover the layer of permanent adhesive material for use ofthe strip as a reusable adhesive strip while the layer of reusableadhesive is in place, and for permanent attachment of the strip to oneof the forms by means of the permanent adhesive upon removal of thelayer of reusable adhesive material.
 4. A record keeping system asclaimed in claim 1 wherein the first form sheets are of paper, and thesecond form sheets are of a material having an impermeable surface.
 5. Arecord keeping system as defined in claim 1 wherein each adhesive backedstrip has a plurality of transverse linear markings thereon, themarkings being located to lie between adjacent headings on either of theform sheets when the strip is adhesively attached to the space providedtherefor on such form sheet.
 6. The method of recording the progress ofan item through two successive departments acting in sequence on suchitem, with comprises, adhesively attaching, by a first of twodepartments, a strip of reusable adhesive backed material to a firstform sheet having a plurality of original entries thereon and havingalso two pluralities of headings thereon pertaining to such item withthe strip extending transversely across both pluralities of suchheadings; marking, by the first of such departments, of pertinentprocessing data pertaining to such item on the strip in register witheach heading of one plurality of such headings, removing the strip bysuch first department and forwarding the strip together with such itemto a follow-up department, adhesive attaching, by such follow-updepartment, the strip of reusable adhesive backed material to a secondform sheet having a similar two pluralities of headings thereon with thestrip extending transversely across both pluralities of such headingswith the data entered on the strip by the first of such departments inregister with each of the headings of one plurality thereof, marking bysuch follow-up department of pertinent processing data pertaining tosuch item on the strip in register with each of the other plurality ofsuch headings, and removing the strip and returning it to the first ofsuch departments for reattachment of the strip to the first sheet withdata entered on the strip by both of such departments in register withrespective headings of both pluralities thereof, whereby such strip,together with the original entries and column headings on the first formprovides a permanent record of the processing of such item through bothsuch departments.
 7. The method defined in claim 6 wherein each strip isone of several similar strips, each pertaining to similar items, andeach originating as a single strip attached to a first such form, andthe several strips are attached in column alignment relative to theheadings on such second form, for simultaneous processing by such seconddepartment.